Helena Lucas launches new Team Sailability Volunteer Logbook

With pink champagne and Sailability balloons, Paralympian and Team Volvo for life sailor Helena Lucas joined the RYA Sailability team to officially launch the new Team Sailability Volunteer logbooks at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show yesterday (06 March).

The logbooks are part of the new Team Sailability pilot scheme which aims to support volunteers in developing the skills they need to give sailors a consistently positive experience. Volunteers are able to record their personal progression in their logbooks completing four certificate levels; bronze, silver gold and platinum.

RYA Sailability Manager Debbie Blachford explains: 'It has been brilliant to have Helena’s support for the Sailability Volunteer Logbook. Volunteers are at the heart of Sailability and we hope the logbook will provide them with a clear understanding of the skills needed to be effective and will enable everyone, whatever their role to progress in the Sailability environment.'

Helena commented: 'I think the Volunteer logbooks are an absolutely fantastic idea. I would not have got to where I am today without the help of all the volunteers so it is great to have a system which will record and acknowledge all of their hard work and achievements.'

There was also another very important RYA Sailability announcement at the show yesterday when Paralympic sailor, Skandia Team GBR’s Megan Pascoe picked out the winning ticket from hundreds of entries in the Sailability raffle.

Megan drew a ticket belonging to lucky visitor Ivor Cohen who took home a ‘just sail’ kit courtesy of Crewsaver, Henry Lloyd, Harken and the RYA filled with goodies worth over £1,000 including a Crewsaver dry kit and a Henri Lloyd sailing bag.

Sailability Chair Pat Dodd thanked visitors for visiting the Sailability Marina, buying a ticket and supporting Sailability. Megan Pascoe added 'Sailability supports a lot of class associations who could not have afforded to be at the show. Sailability builds a community for disabled sailors which brings everyone together and it is great for visitors of the show to see how it all works and how they can get involved.'

To find out more information about Sailability including the Volunteer Logbook visit the RYA website and click on the Sailability link at the bottom of the home page.